Tractor.



F. LII/UNER.

TRACTOR.

APPLICATION FILED IIIAYIa. 1916.

LQMAM. meme@ June 26, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

SLLQ. 5. I

E 'Vm II I lum.

F; l'. mmm.

' TRACTOR.

. mm J'. MINER, OF

; c canton.

DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

TRACTOR.

menace.; j

s Application led May 13,

' To all wltom #may concern Be it known that I, FRANK J. MINEB, acitizen of the United States 'of America, residing .at Detroit, in thecounty of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented cer' 'tain new anduseful Improvements in TractorsofVV which4 the following is aspecification, reference being had therein tothe accompanying drawings.

This invention 'relates to a bearing wheel for heavy service vehicles,such as automobile trucks, tractors or the like, of the type wherein acontinuous linked periphery of suitable segments is. brought into use insuch manner as yalways to impose a` comparatively large bearing areaupon the surfaceg of the ground traversed. The device involves aconstruction which transfers the weight directly to the member of theperiphery that is on the ground without in any way binding the otherparts, and likewise includes driving means which tend to advance themember without causing it to slip when in contact with the ground.

'Ihe invention consists in the matters here-` inafter set forth,. andmore particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings,

. Figure 1 is a view in side elevation, partly broken away and insection and with plate removed, of a structure that embodies features ofthe invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof assembled; Fig. 3 is a view taken insection on line III- III of Fig. 15

Fig. 4 is a view 1n detail of a tread segment;

Fig. .5 is a view in elevation showing the application of a tractor toa` truck;

Fig. 6 is a view partly broken away and in section, of a modification ofthe tractor; Fig. 7 is a'view in sectiontaken on or i about line vii-vnof Fig. e;

Figs. 8 and 9 are views in detail of a segment of the modified form; and

Figs. 10, 11 and 412 are views in detail of slight modifications of thespacing wheels.

Inl the drawings a track plate 4,v is provided to which a side plate 2may be secured by suitable means, as for example bolts or holdingmembers 3. The track plate is transversely gained or cut away betweenits ends to provide clearance for-a 'main driving gear 5 that may be'mounted on a shaft 6 journaled in the bearing. y g

A series of segments 7 are arranged alter- Specification of LettersPatent. Patttgmted Jun@ 26, llglll'?.

-1916T Serial No. 97,253.

nately with other corresponding segments 8to which they are connected bypivot members 9. A set ofl spacing wheels 10 are mounted on pivotmembers 9 in the plane of'gthe spacing member 4, the parts being soproportioned that the wheels 10 roll continuously on the marginalsurface afforded byy the member 4. Preferably, as indicated in Fig. IV,the wheels 10 are carried in suitable recesses formed in the members 7and 8. `Dust guards 11 are formed on the faces of the members 7 and 8 insuch relation tothe overlapping end portions ofthe adjacent pair ofmembers, as to substantially close the wedge shaped gap between them,and as indicated. in Fig. l, to act to expel any dirt that wouldotherwise tend to be drawn between the members 7 and 8 as they assumedifferent angular relation in coming into contact with the ground.

The parts are further housed by a cover plate 12 which is secured to thespacing plate 4`by suitable screws or the like and may have an outboardbearing 13 for the journal 6. i

Where the device is to be used as a tractor with the wheel' in theposition indicated, rack links 14 are pivoted together by the members 9so as to form a continuous rack in engagement with the wheel 5.

It is to be understood'that the bearing 1 (here shown diagrammatically)and the mating support 13 with intermediate parts are so disposed andarranged that they may be mounted on the standard driving axle of atruck or the like. thedriving gear in place, the weight from the truckis transmitted in` a direct line through the large bearing wheels andcam plate or track plate to the links or segments as they strike theground so-that there is practically no weight'to be carried by the pivotmembers of the device. Furthermore the action of the gear wheel on therack is such that the device rolls on the lower rack and correspondingortion of the track plate while vit is driving forward the upper orslack portion.

In the modification shown in Fig. 6, the segments 14 are linked togetherin overlapping relation and each are provided with recesses 15 in whichrollers or spacing wheels 16 are journaled on the pivot pins 17 thatsecure the links in relation. Because of the overlapping of the links orsegments and the housing in the recesses 15 of the rollers When somounted with 19 which is herein shown corresponding to the cover plate12 .shown in Fig. 3, may -be omitted as there is no side thrust in themembers.

Because also of this construction, the gearing may be omitted and whileinA Fig. 7

there is shown a gear 20 meshing into racks 5 21 carried by the pivots,still this can be readily taken off in case the assembled device is usedmerely as a bearing wheel and not for tractor purposes.

In order to prevent this side play that has been above alluded to inreference to plates 19 and 2O or the corresponding plates 12 and 2` ofthe other type, the spacing wheels may be given the dress on theperiphery shown in `Figs. ,l0, 11,l and 12, thatis, they may have anygrooved or anged periphery i which assists, when coperat'ing with acorrespondingly in maintaining the links or sections in llateralalinement without imposing any end thrust whatever through the-pivotpins to plain` links the plates which merely act as dust protectors. l

As a result of this construction a wheel is obtained which provides avery broad bearing surface thatdoes not tend to slip, that practically'clears itselt` of dirt, and that permits the free operation of the partsas they are well housed from dust or mud. With the racks omitted .andeither with replacing them or 'with no such parts, wheel that carriesenormous ground without difficulty.

As a lfurther result of the arrangement of the device the hub which isherein shown largely the portion ofthe parts is such that the tractorWheelmay., be readily mountedbn any standard driving axle' or hub inplace of a conventional traction bearing wheel. That is, theoproportionsof the wheel are so arranged that the vertical diameter is substantiallyythat of a tractor wheel andv'accordingly it may be substituted for suchwheel on any vehicle. This is the arrangement lshown in Fig. 5. A .Y

A further result of the construction is the generous 'proportions of thespacing wheels loads over soft which while `completely housed in the rellcesses of the segments, are still of such diameter that the rollingcontact with the track platepractically eliminates all load friction.The large size of the spacing wheels also eliminates any noise, to alarge extent, that is common in devices of this character wherein smallrollers are used to carry a linked tread.

formed rim on` the ytrack plate;l

the device becomes a bearing diagrammatically is so disposed and plate,

Obviously changes in the details of construction maybe made` withoutdeparting from the' spirit of my invention and I do notcare to limitmyself to any particular form or arrangement 'of parts.

1. A bearing wheel for vehicles comprising a side plate, a' ltrack platesecured thereto, a cover plate secured on the track plate, oppositelydisposed segments havingv 'recessed end portions pivoted together inoverlapping relation to form an endless link `tread member encirclingthe track plate between thefside and cover plates, spacing wheelsmounted between the overlapping portions of the" points thereof inrolling contact with the margin of the track plate, and a dust guard oneach segment filling the interval between the overlapping contiguouspairs of segments.

segments at the pivotal 2. A bearing wheel for vehicles comprisv ing aside plate, a track \plate secured thereto, oppositely disposed segmentshaving-recessed end portions pivoted together in overlapping relation toform an endless link tread member encircling the track plate between theside and cover plate, spacing wheels mounted between the overlappingportions of the segments at the pivotal points'thereof in rollingcontact with the margin of the track plate, and a dust guard on` eachsegment tween the overlapping contiguouspair of segments. l

3. A bearing wheel for vehicles comprising a side plate, a track platesecured therefilling the interval bef to, oppositelydisposed segmentshaving recessed end portions, pivoted together in overlappingrelation toform an 'endless linked tread member encircling said track plate,spacing whe/els having flanged peripheries engaging the'correspondinglyfaced periphery of the track plate mounted in the recesses of thesegments at the pivotal .points thereof in rolling contact with thetrack and a dust guard oneach segment filling the interval between theoverlapping contiguous pairs of segments.

4. A bearing vwheel for vehicles comprising a side plate, a track platesecured thereto,

oppositely disposed segments having recessed portions,

tread 4member encircling said track plate, spacing wheels housed in therecessed portions of the segments and journaled at the ivotal pointsthereof yin rolling contact and pivoted together in, overlappingrelation to form an endless link with the track plate the wheel andtrack contacting. portions being correspondingly faced to preventlateraldisplacement, and

l a dust guard. on each segment filling the interval between theoverlapping contiguous pairs of segments.

5. A bearing WheelY for vehicles, comprising a side plate, a track platesecured thereto,

oppositely disposed segments having re-v cessed end portions, pivotedtogether in overlapping relation to form an endless link tread memberencircling said track plate, spacing wheels in the recesses of thesegments at the pivotal points thereof in rolling contact with the trackplate, rack links articulating on the pivotal connections of thesegments, and a driving gear in mesh with the rack links rotatablymounted in the plates in substantially concentric relation with the linktread member.

6. A bearing wheel for vehicles, comprising a side plate, a track platesecured thereto provided with a peripherally grooved and flanged margin,oppositely disposed segments pivoted together in overlapping relation"to form an endless link tread member encircling the track plate, spacingwheels` journaled on thepivot connections of the segments'and housed bythe segments having flanged peripheries "engaging the periphery of thetrack plate a dust guard on each segmentlling the interval between theoverlapping contiguous pairs of segments, rack links connecting thepivot members of the segments, and a gear mounted on the track plateconcentrically with the periphery thereof in mesh with the rack links.

7. A bearing wheel for vehicles comprising aside'plate, a track platesecured theretd, oppositely disposed segments having recessed endportions pivoted together inoverlapping relation to form an endless linktread member, encircling the track plate,

spacing wheels mounted between the overlapping portions of the segmentsat the several pivotal points thereof in rolling contact with the marginof the track plate, the spacing wheels being of' a diameter closelyapproaching the width of the segments, anda dust guarden eachsegmentlling the interval between the overlapping contiguous pairs ofsegments.'

v ,8. A bearing wheel for vehicles comprising a side plate, a trackplate secured thereto, oppositely disposed segments having recessed endportions, pivot members securing the segments together to form anendless link tread member encircling the track plate,

spacing wheels mounted inl the recessed por-v tions of the segments onthe pivot members of suliicient diameter to project beyond the marginsof the segments, and arranged in rolling contact with the margin of thetrack to, a set of oppositely disposed segments having recessed endportions, pivots securing the overlapping'end portions of the segmentsto form an endless link tread member encircling the track plate, spacingWheels -mounted on the pivot members in the recesses of the segments, inrolling contact with the margin of the track plate and a dust guard oneach segment filling the interval between the overlapping contiguouspairs of segments, the contacting margins of the track plate and wheelbeing arranged to prevent lateral displacement of the parts relative toeach other;

l0. ln a motor vehicle, the combination of a standard bearing anddriving axle, of a traction bearing wheel comprising a track plateadapted to be journaled on the axle, a driving gear journaled adjacentthe plate adapted to be secured to the drive shaft of the aXle, a seriesof segments having inner recessed marginal portions, pivots connectingthe segments, spacing wheels on the pivots engagingthe marginal face ofthe track plate and maintaining the segments therearound -as a Alinkedtread, rack links 'connecting the pivots in mesh with the driving gear,and dust guards on each segment between the adjacent end portions of thecompanion segments.

In testimony whereof ll ax my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

FRANK J. MINER. Witnesses:

f C. R. STICKNEY,

ANNA M. Doma.

